My Top 5 Voiceover Industry Trends for 2025
The voiceover industry is changing faster than ever and if you're a voice actor, a producer or connected to the voiceover industry, you might recognise some changes by now. If you are fully emersed into AI, you might be able to add or make corrections to this blog, which I welcome you to do, because it’s all about learning more about our amazing industry.
The year 2025 will bring advancements we haven’t seen before and the challenges that come with it.
In light of what we have experienced so far and based on my personal experience to date, here are my Top 5 trends in the voiceover industry as I see it and what it could mean for you.
1. AI and Synthetic Voices
You’ve probably heard of AI voices by now. These synthetic voices can mimic human speech so well, that sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference, but here’s the thing: Artificial Intelligence, or any robot for that matter, needs a human to initially ‘tell it what to do’. When you give these “prompts”, or “commands”, they sometimes lack the specific detail needed to get exactly what you want, and so can produce something you may be disappointed with.
Whilst many voice actors have been very hesitant about AI voices, because it may threaten their income, it is slowly becoming more acceptable in the world to merge human authenticity with AI. Whilst it may have some initial hick-ups, it could potentially reshape the industry and lead to some really interesting opportunities along the way. The difficulty however is that a hit on income can be an ‘actual’ thing, even though the road ahead for AI is still somewhat unknown. This can create a sense of insecurity around synthetic voices.
From a clients perspective, things look a lot clearer. Initially, it may be a much more affordable to use AI, but what they may have to consider is that the result always depends on how the AI voice is ‘prompted’. This is still a skill that only top end production houses can assist with at the moment, as the majority of people are still finding their way. Clients will start to see that it’s not just a cheaper option and that an actual understanding of synthetic voices is required to do it right. Whilst this does not always go right immediately, clients may also decide to return to an authentic voice when their initial interaction with AI voices wasn’t quite what was expected.
Melvin’s Pro Tip: If you’re a voice actor, focus on what makes you uniquely irreplaceable. Continue to develop your talent as a voice actor and meanwhile become more informed about voice synthesis and see if you can potentially incorporate this into your business.
2. Home studios are becoming the new normal
For most in the industry, there will always be a professional recording studio nearby where amazing content will be produced by high-end creatives. Yet at the same time, who doesn’t own a home studio nowadays? Creating one is becoming more affordable and easier to set up, given the vast amount of resources and Youtube videos. One that I could recommend is ‘GeorgeThe.Tech’ on Youtube, who has a very friendly approach to helping people setting up their gear.
It’s probably safe to say that this has made remote recording the norm for many professional voice actors. Chances are that this develops further in 2025. A well-equipped home studio with good soundproofing, a quality microphone and reliable internet allows voice talents to deliver polished audio directly to clients. Plugins for DAW’s (Digital Audio Workspaces) can be bought and downloaded from websites like Waves and can make an unexperienced person sound like a high end sound engineer. I have used these for over a decade in my radio station productions and voiceover work.
Professional recording remains essential for large-scale projects, specialised recording needs or when clients prefer an environment where they can come together, with enough room and space to discuss and create their project. The difference is that a home studio is operated by a voiceover artist and the professional recording studio facilitates larger groups of people who work on a larger project.
In 2025, it’s common for professional voice actors to seamlessly work from both home studios and professional studios, depending on the project. The key is maintaining high-quality output, no matter where the recording takes place.
Melvin’s Pro Tip: Keep your tech up to date. Learn and adapt new skills and remain flexible and adaptable in live directed recording sessions.
voice actors will look for different ways to help clients
3. Voice actors will expand beyond just the voice
In 2025, voice actors are becoming multi-talented creators who market themselves as such. This may not be for everyone, but with the constant changes in the voice industry, voice actors will look for different ways to help others.
Clients increasingly seek talent who can also edit audio, consult on scriptwriting or simply ask for advice on how to go about a project. Offering more than just your voice can set you apart and make you invaluable in the production process.
Melvin’s Pro Tip: Broaden your horizon and start thinking about how you can add to your current skills, like audio editing or script writing, to help clients move forward.
4. Conversational Styles Are Taking Over
Remember those old school, over-the-top voice announcers? In 2025 these will be something of the past. Nowadays, audiences respond best to authenticity and relatability, especially in a world where clients might choose a cheaper option through AI. The decisive factor will always be that the product needs to make a ‘connection’ with the audience. This happens on a human level, which means that there will always be room for the authentic read done by a professional voice actor, as well as AI voices.
Another thing to consider is that clients don’t ‘sell’ things to each other in the way they used to. The 80’s and 90’s saw more of a bombastic announcer style voiceover, where a top down deep voice would tell you what to buy. Those days are long gone as customers like to be taken seriously and spoken to in a manner similar to how they communicate.
With the introduction of AI, you’ll probably see more of a move towards real, down to earth type of voiceover who is able to deliver a ‘conversational read’.
Melvin’s Pro Tip: Recently I heard a voiceover producer say that he wants people to “just talk”. In other words, less additional emphasis and more voicing, as if you’re talking to a friend. The more genuine you sound, the more you’ll stand out, especially when clients look for a valuable authentic read.
Virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and interactive content becomes part of our daily life
